Canadians don't want election now, opposition says

OTTAWA (Reuters) - Canada's minority Conservative
government won a new confidence vote on Thursday after most of
the Liberal opposition abstained on a budget resolution, and
Liberal leader Stephane Dion said Canadians don't want a new
federal election.

"We've decided we will not trigger an election right now,
and I think we are in agreement with the overwhelming majority
of Canadians," Dion told reporters.

Dion spoke after he and a handful of Liberals voted against
a government budget motion. But the rest of the party stayed in
their seats, guaranteeing a government victory.

The Liberals backed another confidence motion which passed
later on Thursday extending Canada's military mission in
Afghanistan to 2011.

The Liberals have propped up the Conservatives on other
votes in recent weeks, prompting some opponents to ridicule
Dion as a weak leader who should let the Liberals take their
chances in an early election.

But some of his advisers say there is little point in an
election now. Polls point to another minority government, quite
possibly another Conservative one.

The Conservatives were elected in January 2006 after more
than 12 years of Liberal rule. The next election is due in
October 2009, but it could take place earlier if opposition
parties combine forces to vote the government out.

The Liberals have thrown the Conservatives off message for
weeks with charges of unethical or criminal behavior, charging
that Conservative Party officials tried to bribe a dying member
of Parliament in 2005, and that Harper knew of this.
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